Hello Worthington! Here's your recap of what happened at June 29th's Board of Education meeting. Below are brief summaries of the most significant discussions. For those interested in the full details, we've included links to longer articles where appropriate.
District Closes the Books on Fiscal 2026 in Strong Shape
The board's final meeting of the fiscal year centered on money: Worthington Schools finished fiscal 2026 about $2.8 million ahead of projections, with under-budget spending and stronger-than-expected interest income outweighing a real estate tax shortfall tied to commercial property valuations. The board approved next year's spending plan and a fee schedule that keeps athletic participation fees flat by sending 100 percent of them to the athletic fund, ending a split that had routed 30 percent to the general fund.
July 10 Special Meeting
The board met again Friday, July 10 at 7:30 a.m., an early hour set by state law. July 10 is the last day under Ohio law an educator can resign from one district and be hired by another without the first district's approval, so boards across Ohio meet that morning to approve hires and let those employees resign from their old jobs later the same day.
Worthington's board did exactly that. It approved the expected hire, Kirsten Dyer, who joins Worthington Kilbourne High School as an assistant principal from Columbus City Schools. The board also approved three teachers: a kindergarten teacher at Granby Elementary, a first-grade teacher, and a special education teacher at Kilbourne.
The meeting also opened a state-required public hearing on rehiring two retired teachers to their current positions. The board will take up the rehires at its July 27 meeting.
The full video of the July 10 meeting is here.
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In Other News
- Summer programming has wrapped up its June session: the Worthington Summer Enrichment Academy and K-5 summer learning programs served more than 1,000 students, and summer school resumes in July for high schoolers building credits toward graduation. School buildings are also being readied for fall: Worthington Hills Elementary is getting new playground equipment and a new roof to repair April hail damage, and work continues at Thomas Worthington High School on the east parking lot, surrounding roads, and a new stadium track. The first day of school is August 19.
- The board approved its year-end consent agenda, including donations and an unusually large batch of personnel items, a normal feature of the last meeting of the fiscal year, when districts finalize hiring ahead of the new school year.
- The Worthington Partnership held its second annual Juneteenth Night Market in Old Worthington on June 18, with board member Sheena Costa Flowers helping lead the event. Worthington Schools staffed a booth alongside community organizations including the Worthington Alliance of Black Families & Educators, the Worthington Historical Society, and Worthington Libraries.
- From board member Kelli Davis, the board's library liaison: Worthington Libraries' facility planning is moving forward, with a firm expected to go before the library trustees in July. Summer reading program signups are still open.
- A state legislative update: the General Assembly is in summer recess and isn't expected back before the November election. An education omnibus bill, House Bill 455, passed before the break; Board President Amber Epling-Skinner, the board's OSBA legislative liaison, said it doesn't appear to contain policy changes the district needs to act on.
Upcoming Dates
Monday, July 13, 7 p.m. — Worthington City Council meeting, including a public hearing on adding Tree of Life Christian Schools land to the Sharon Township Joint Economic Development District.
Monday, July 20 — Second-half Franklin County property tax payments due. These bills still use old values; the new 2026 appraisals hit tax bills in January 2027.
Tuesday, July 21, 6 p.m. — Parks & Recreation Commission at the Worthington Community Center. The commission advises on parks projects like the new outdoor pool and Wilson Hill playground.
Monday, July 27, 6:30 p.m. — Board of Education regular meeting.
Monday, August 10, 6:30 p.m. — Board of Education regular meeting.
Monday, August 24, 6:30 p.m. — Board of Education regular meeting, the first after classes resume.
Wednesday, August 19 — First day of the 2026-27 school year for Worthington Schools.
Thanks for reading this summary of the Board of Education meeting, you can watch the original full video here.